POLY(AZOMETHINE SULFONES) .1. SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF NEW POLY(AZOMETHINE SULFONES) CONTAINING ORTHO PARA AROMATIC MOIETIES/

New poly(azomethine sulfones) with linear structures containing methyl ene bis(2-oxobenzylidene aniline), methylene bis(4-oxobenzylidene anil ine), 1,4-bis(4-oxobenzylidene amino)phenylene and 1,4-bis(2-oxobenzyl idene amino)phenylene units were prepared in the conventional literatu re manner by the reaction of azomethine bisphenols (M 1-4) with 4,4'-s ulfonyl bischlorobenzene. The resulting polymers were confirmed by IR, H-1-NMR and elemental analysis, and were characterized by UV measurem ents, viscosities, solubilities, DSC and thermo-gravimetric analysis ( TGA) in air. A difference in the solubility and thermal behavior betwe en the polymers with ortho-and para-chains was observed. The hydroliti c stability of the polymers in 10% wt aqueous sulfuric acid was reason able.